The small things I've missed
Back in LA this week and realizing the small things I've really missed!
I am in LA this week for the first few days of what will be a few weeks in the US, and the joyful overwhelm of life has made me realize a few of the things that I’ve missed the most while living abroad thus far:
Drinking water from the tap: So simple. So small. Extremely satisfying.
The extreme availability of everything: You want to have an acai bowl for breakfast, pick up a fancy perfume around lunch time, and find that rare cookbook for your chef friend? It’s all possible, probably within a short walk if you’re in a major city, or available for delivery within 1-3 days. You never have to wait. In some ways this makes me realize how much of American life is centered around consumption. But it’s also extremely convenient :)
Quality of food: In restaurants, both fancy-ish and laid back, as well as grocery stores and farmers markets, the quality of the fruits, vegetables, and meats is incredibly high. Yes, I’m in LA in the summertime, close to the heartland of where our food is grown. There’s an argument to be made about how American food can lack nutrition and natural variety in favor of external beauty and consistency, but overall the quality has been hard to beat.
Lack of cultural navigation: I hadn’t been cognizant until being back about the fact that a small slice of my brain in Nigeria is always paying attention to navigating the cultural norms that are different than mine. They are super small things - how to greet people in public, how to order at a restaurant, whether or not to negotiate for an item, whether someone is actually mad when they’re shouting while talking. It’s freeing to have that eliminated.
Outdoor access: Ok, I knew I missed this one. But it’s still incredibly great.
P.S. There’s just nothing like a fancy coffee.